Portable electric flash-light.



0.41. SAGEBRECHT.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.22. 1914.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

- lar shell or casing of the flash light or lamp ,UNTTED sTATEs PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES J'. SAGEBRECHT, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERSTATEELECTRIC NOVELTY CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iratented Sept. 28, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. SAGE- BRECHT, a citizen of the lUnitedStates, and a resident of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PortableElectric Flash-Lights, of which the following is-a specication. y

The invention pertains more particularly to improvements inthe class ofelectric lamps designed to be held in the handand sometimes used asflash lights, and at other times for allordingy a permanent light foraiort period, and the object of the invention is to provide a newconstruction of the tububywhich the conductors extending inwardly fromthe opposite ends thereof tothe circuit closing means are protectedagainst contact with the shell of the battery and are also very securelyheldin positionand prevented from buckling or bulging between theirends. It has long been known that the conductors in tubular flashlightsbecome injured by the repeated scraping of the shell of the batteryagainst the same, especially when a used battery is withdrawn and a newbattery substituted, and in addition the conductors, which are usuallyvof thin strips of sheet metal, bulge inwardly vat their intermediateportions so that the battery must necessarily scrape against them duringits insertion and withdrawal, with the result that the lamp does notlast as long as it should and that frequently the entire lamp has to bethrown away because of some disarrangement of the conductors. It is alsowell known that a corrosive action will set up on the exterior shell ofthe battery, and that this attacks the conductors extending to thecircuit closing means.

In accordance with my invention and by a new method of manufacture, theconductors extending toward each other from opposite ends of the shellor casing of the lamp are embed ded within the material of said shell sothat they are protected against any destructive action of the battery,either by the movementlof the battery or by corrosive action, and thelife of the lamp is thereby eX- tended almost indefinitely. n

presented, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a portable electric flash light orlampembodying my invention, the conductors extending inw ardly toward eachother from opposite ends of the exterior casing being indicated bydotted lines; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same on thedotted'line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. is a horizontal section through the sametaken on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig.

4 is a like section of the same taken on the dotted line 4 4 of Fig.' 2;Fig. 5 is a view, Ipartly in section,illustrating the method ofconstructing the exterior shell or casing ot 'the' lamp with theconductors embedkded therein, and Fig.` 6 is a detached perspective viewof the shell of the lamp shown in Figs. l and 2 and illustrates themanner of' dividing the straight strip of conducting material shown inFig. 5 into two conductors separated at their facing end portionspreparatory to receiving the circuit closing and opening devices.

In the drawings 10 designates the exterior shell or casing, 11 thebattery, 12 the lens, 13-

the electric lamp bulb, 14 the reflector, 15 the electric connectionofthe battery with the lamp, and 16 the usual electrical conductorconnection between 'the metallic cap 17 and the lower terminal of thebattery 11, said battery, lens, lamp, reflector, electric connections-15, 16, and cap 17 being of customary character.

Embedded within the wall of the shell or casing 10 are two conductors orstripsof metal 18, 19, the lower end of the conductor 19 being inelectrical connection with the metal cap 17as usual, and which cap isordinarily screwed upon a metal sleeve 20 fastened around the lower end.of the shell or casing 10.

The upper end of the conductor 18 is in electrical connection with thereflector 14, and said reflector and the lens 12 are, as is customary,held in position by means of a threaded metalsleeve 21 screwed upon 4ametal sleeve 22 fastened around the upper 'end of the shell or casing10.

The shell or casing 10 is made from a sheet or strip of paper, fiber orother nonconducting material wound layer upon layer upon a mandrel whosediameter is equal to the bore of. the shell or casing to be produced,the sheet or strip being continuous and wound around the mandrel untilthe requisite thickness ot the tube has been see cured. In` accordancewith my invention, during the winding of the sheet or strip to form thetube or shell 10, I apply between two of the layers as wound, a strip ofmetal 23 extending lengthwise of the tube, as I represent the samediagrammatically in Fig. 5, and this metal strip 23 during the formationof the tube becomes embedded therein and iinally is converted into theseparate conductors 1S, 19 in the manner represented -in Fig. G. I willordinarily use a continuous metal strip 23 and form a tube of suflicientlength to be cut into a suitable number of sections for the formation ofthe shells or casings 10. After a tube of proper length and thicknesshas been formed and has had embedded or enveloped in it a conductingstrip 23 extending the full length of the' tube, the lat-ter will be cuttransversely into the requisite lengths for the Ishells or casings 10,one of which is separately shown in Fig. 6. Ordinarily the conductors1S, 19 are exposed at the inner surface of the shell or casing 10 andthe shell or asing of the battery 11 is in direct contact witlrthem.' Inaccordance with my present invention the contact strip 23 is embeddedwithin the tube, and hence in the formation of a casing or shell 10 fromthe tube. the coiu'luetors 18. 1%) are, not exposed at the inner surface`of the shell or casing or in engagement with the battery 11 but areembedded 'within and protected by the walls of said shell or casing. Itis essential that the adjoining portions of the conductors 1,8. 1ST benormally separated from each other so as to break the circuit throughthe lamp and battery, and hence after a section of the tube has been cutotll into the requisite length for a shell or casing 10, I

.cut a` recess 2+ in the outer wall of the shellor casing and sever the.strip ot metal e111-,

bedded therein and turn one end. as at 25, of one section of the stripoutwardly to be used as an electrical contact. Over the recess 2l andoutwardly bent end 25 I apply a transverse ornate strip of metal 2G, thelatter being riveted or otherwise secured to the shell or casing andbeing in direct engagement with the aforesaid end 25, which is on thesection of the strip of metal constituting' the "through the lamp andbattery.

spring contact 30 is in its ret 'acted position conductor 1S. The metalstrip 2t conceals the recess 24; and contact end 25 of the conductor 1Sand itself becomes an electric contact for cooperation with the circuitclosing means.

Below the recess 24 I secure u on the shell or casing 10 a metal plate 2which through a. rivet, eyelet or the like 28 is in electricalconnection with the conductor 19, and upon the metal plate 27 is ahousing 29 confining a spring contact 30 having a buttonhead 31 exposedat the top of the housing 29, which is formed in its upper surface witha slot 32 to permit the buttonhead 31 to be moved longitudinally of thehousing and to retract the spring contact 30 therein as shown in Fig. 1,or slide the same up -wardly into engagement with the metal strip- 2Gand thereby connect the conductors 19, 18 and complete or close thecircuit Then the shown in F ig. 1, the conductors 19, 1S are separatedfrom each other as indicated in I? ig. 6, and when the spring contact`30 is pushed upwardly or outwardly on the tasing 10' its forward endpasses into engagement with a rib on the strip 2G and thereby becomesplaced in electrical connection with the electrical conductor 18 andcloses the circuit. So long as the yspring contact 30 remains inelectrical engagement with the strip 26, the circuit will remain closedand the lamp will keep lighted, and when by means `of the buttonhead 31the spring contact-30 is retracted within the housing 2Q and leaves themetal strip 26, the circuit will be broken and the lamp will cease to belighted. The strip 2G and the spring contact 30 are not new features inthis art but heretofore they have been employed in connection withconductors which were exposed at the inner surface of the shell orcasing 10 and in no sense protected against contact with the battery 11.

In carrying out the manufacture of the shell or casing 10 I thereforemake a long tube havingr a continuous metal strip 23 embedded thereinand sever said tube into sections suitable for the size of flash lightsto be produced, and then vtake each section of the longl tube and formtherein, in the outer wall only a. recess 2-1 and sever the metal stripat said recess and turn the severed end of one section of the stripoutwardly to serve as a contact, thereby creating the separatedconductors 1S, 19. The other parts described will then be applied to theshell or casing thus formed for t-he purpose of con'ipleting the lamp.The shell or cas ing 10 is.` as will be understood from the drawings, astiff hard shell of sufficient thickness and .strength to permit its usefor the purposes described. The -shell is capable .of .withstandingconsiderable strain as is necessary in the use to which it is placed.material, a conductor embedded within said If the shell were not selfsustaining, hard and strong it would be unsuitable as a casing for aflaslr light. The material of the shell is exceedingly dense, and in thepracticel of mv invention said shell or casing has been made1 of liber.

-By the novel manufacture of the shell or casinglOhereinbeforedescribed, I am enabled to produce said shell or casing and permanentlysecure the conductors 18, 19

therein, the mater ial of the shell or casing lso not only securelyholding said conductors against any movement whatever but effectuallyprotecting them against any corrosive action that might be set up on thewall of the battery and also against the injury which it is'well knowncomes to conductors by their frictional contact with the battery andespecially during the insertion in and withdrawal of the battery fromthe outer casing. The shell or casing 10 embedding within its walls theconductors 18, 19 is entirely new, so far as l am aware, and has beenproduced ,with the view of improving the lamp 'and increasing itslongevity.

Cross reference vis made to my co-pending application No. 813,616showing my novel construction of shell vor casing with a diff rentcircuit closer andwith the' embedded conducting strip in one continuouspiece instead of being severed and exposed through the side of thecasing as is. required by the special circuit closer hereinbeforedescribed.

4What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is:

1. In an electric'flash light of the class described, a non-conductingshell or main casing formed of a spirally wound sheet of material, aconductor embedded within said shell between layers thereof, a lamp andreflector' on one end of the shell, a battery within the shell havingone terminal in connection with the la'mp, and manually operative meansfor connecting said conductor in the lamp and battery circuit tocomplete the same-said shell or casing being self sustaining, hard,dense and strong.

l2. In an electric flash light of the class described, a non-conductingshell or main casing formed of a spirally woundsheet of material, aconductor embedded within said shell between layers thereof, a lamp andreflector on one end of the shell, a battery within the shell having oneterminal in connection with the lamp, means electrically connecting oneend of said conductor with the other battery terminal, and manuallyoperative means for connecting the said conductor in the lamp andbattery circuit to' complete the same, .said shell or casing being selfsustaining, hard, dense and strong.

3. In an electric flash' lightof the class described, a non-conductingshell or main casing formed of a spirally wound sheet of operative meansfor connecting the said conduetor in the lamp and battery circuit tocomplete the same and comprising a slide on y said shell in electricalconnection with said conductor and a second conductor to be engaged bysaid slide and leading to the lamp, said shell or casing-'being selfsustaining, hard, dense and strofg.

4. In an electric flash light of the class described, a non-conductingshell or main casing formed of a spirally wound sheet of material,conductors embedded within said shell between layers thereof 'andextending inwardly toward each other and separated from each other atadjoining portions, a lamp and reflector on one end of said shell, abattery within the shell in electrical connection with the lamp and theouter ends ofsaid conductors and manually operative means for connect, gand .closing the circuit through said conductors, said shell or casingbeing self sustaining, hard, dense and strong.

5. In an electric flash light of the class described, a non-conductingshell or main casing formed of a spirally wound sheet of material,conductors embedded within said shell between layers thereof andextending inwardly to vard each other and separated from each other atadjoining portions, a lamp and reflector on one end of said shell. abattery within the shell in electrical connection with 4the lamp and theouter ends of Said conductors, and manually operative means forconnecting and closing the circuit through said conductors andcomprising a slide on the shell in electrical connection with one ofsaid conductors andl a contact plate in electrical. connection with theother conductor and to be engaged by said slide. said shell or casingbeing self sustaining. hard, dense and strong.

G. ln an electric Hash light otl the class described, a non-conductingshell or main casing formed of a spil-ally wound sheet of Amaterial,conductors embedded within said llo wzuly bent end of the otherConductor and of New York and State of New York, ths to be engaged bysaid slide, the outer wall QtILdHy of January, A. D. 1914.

ofthe shell being recessed tol expose and CHALES J SAGEBRECHT' pel-nutthe outward bending ot sind end of the conductor, said shell o1' casingbeing self Witnessesr sustaining. hard, dense and strong. CHAs. C. GILL,

Signed at New York city, in the county ARTHUR MARION.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. CJ

